A political divorce between the Liberal and National parties might be needed to save the coalition from "damaging" infighting over divisive climate policy, an analyst says.

Moderate Liberal MPs are discussing splitting from the Nationals after the rural party voted to dump their commitment to net-zero emissions by 2050 at a meeting on Sunday.

It places additional pressure on Sussan Ley's leadership as her inner circle mulls ditching the climate target.

The opposition leader said the Nationals were entitled to take their own position on net zero.

While some within the Liberals are open to a relationship break, others hold a view the longer the two parties are separated the harder it will be to get back together, with the risk of greater divergence in other policy areas.

Monash Universi

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